HELP Our hen has a swollen eye! Swelled shut, smells like infection

[klmclain1]

I'm so glad! I hope she perks up. Keep us posted!

 

[mama dixie]

hello, thank you for replying to my post. I have given her tylan but what is the recomended does I did not know for sure. also were did you get the stuff you put in her eye? should I also treat for coxi, I saw that someone her was saying both could be going on at the same time...

 

[Snack Giver]

OK my hen's bloodtest came back. The vet assistant called and said she has Mycoplasma Gallisepticum. Her treatment is to complete the next 2 days of injectable tylosin and then switch to oral. She gets 200mg twice a day injected into her breast muscle. The eye ointment is called neopolydex. it goes directly onto her infected eye twice a day too.

She has been more active today, eating and generally more normal. But her eye is huge. It has even gotten a little bigger. I waited all day to hear from the doc. She had somebody else call me who was frantically in a hurry to hang up.

I can't say I felt better after talking to my expensive vet, either yesterday. Both times now I have been on the phone they try to get rid of me in 1-2 minutes. Not helping me understand Mycoplasma Gallisepticum or what to expect. I must say as a biz owner myself for 12 years, I would never do that to customers who just paid $240 yesterday. I would also feel if i were a vet, I personally would want my customers who are upset by the illness of a loved one to get my attention for a few minutes. But honestly I'm unable to go anywhere else. This is a bird clinic. Their yelp page says they are professional, but that they are very expensive. I knew that going in. I'm just surprised how I'm not getting a caring person talking to me, just 3rd hand info and now please hang the f--k up thank u.

 

[dawg53]

OK my hen's bloodtest came back. The vet assistant called and said she has Mycoplasma Gallisepticum. Her treatment is to complete the next 2 days of injectable tylosin and then switch to oral. She gets 200mg twice a day injected into her breast muscle. The eye ointment is called neopolydex. it goes directly onto her infected eye twice a day too.

She has been more active today, eating and generally more normal. But her eye is huge. It has even gotten a little bigger. I waited all day to hear from the doc. She had somebody else call me who was frantically in a hurry to hang up.

I can't say I felt better after talking to my expensive vet, either yesterday. Both times now I have been on the phone they try to get rid of me in 1-2 minutes. Not helping me understand Mycoplasma Gallisepticum or what to expect. I must say as a biz owner myself for 12 years, I would never do that to customers who just paid $240 yesterday. I would also feel if i were a vet, I personally would want my customers who are upset by the illness of a loved one to get my attention for a few minutes. But honestly I'm unable to go anywhere else. This is a bird clinic. Their yelp page says they are professional, but that they are very expensive. I knew that going in. I'm just surprised how I'm not getting a caring person talking to me, just 3rd hand info and now please hang the f--k up thank u.

Here's the info you need on MG: (I saw that you read about it in the other thread)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps034
http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/respiratory_disease.htm

 

[Snack Giver]

dawg. thank you. I'm upset here. I think I'm realizing how serious and basically incurable the disease is. I may need to put our sick hen down in order to save the other 5. What are the chances they already caught it? I read it seems to have a 3 day incubation period. They have not shown signs that the maran did (tiredness and then finally a swollen eye and infected nostrils.) How will I know if my other birds are fine? I understand this little one must be put down.

 

[klmclain1]

SnackGiver... I believe that in your situation, I would write a letter to the vet - mark it "personal" on the outside of the envelope and address it to him/her personally. Tell them what you experienced, how you felt, and what you expected. Do not complain, just be factual. Ask for what you want - ie: a few minutes of their time to explain the disease, and what you should expect.

I get very bent out of shape with any doctor of any kind who gives me a "better than thou" attitude. I have an uncle who is a brilliant heart surgeon in the Houston Medical Center and he has ALWAYS been humble and caring to his patients. In fact, he has always told me he's nothing more than a glorified car mechanic. I question my doctors and I could give a rip how fast they want to leave the room. I know they're busy - but so am I and their time is NOT worth more than mine. <sigh> ..now I'm all riled up

.

 

[dawg53]

dawg. thank you. I'm upset here. I think I'm realizing how serious and basically incurable the disease is. I may need to put our sick hen down in order to save the other 5. What are the chances they already caught it? I read it seems to have a 3 day incubation period. They have not shown signs that the maran did (tiredness and then finally a swollen eye and infected nostrils.) How will I know if my other birds are fine? I understand this little one must be put down.

There is one treatment you can try. Denagard. It is specifically for mycoplasma diseases. It can be purchased from QC Supply. It's not cheap. There is an initial treatment dose, then a monthly preventative dose. Here's a link:
http://www.denagard.com/pig-poultry-public/en/index.shtml
There is no resistance nor egg withdrawal with denagard useage.
The initial treatment dosage is 16cc per gallon of water for 3-5 days. The monthly preventative dose is 8cc's per gallon of water for 3 days.
If you want to be really aggressive with this disease, (which I recommend) use oxine in conjunction with the denagard. Revival Animal Health sells it online or call them.
Dosage is 1/8 teaspoon oxine per gallon of water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle, set the nozzle to the finest mist possible. Mist over the chickens heads 3 times a day for 10 days. A few squirts is all that's necessary each time.

 

[Snack Giver]

SnackGiver... I believe that in your situation, I would write a letter to the vet - mark it "personal" on the outside of the envelope and address it to him/her personally. Tell them what you experienced, how you felt, and what you expected. Do not complain, just be factual. Ask for what you want - ie: a few minutes of their time to explain the disease, and what you should expect.

I get very bent out of shape with any doctor of any kind who gives me a "better than thou" attitude. I have an uncle who is a brilliant heart surgeon in the Houston Medical Center and he has ALWAYS been humble and caring to his patients. In fact, he has always told me he's nothing more than a glorified car mechanic. I question my doctors and I could give a rip how fast they want to leave the room. I know they're busy - but so am I and their time is NOT worth more than mine. <sigh> ..now I'm all riled up

.

I'm so upset that nobody took the time to explain to me how serious this is for our other birds. I hope I'm not looking at 5 other soon-to-be sick birds. I had to come here to find out that my little maran may be to be put down. My wife already called the vet and left an upset message. Our other vet was so much more caring about our cat when he got terminal.

 

[crj]

Snack Giver, from what you have mentioned about your hen I don't see why you would have to put her down. You have the meds and I hope they are working. I thought you mentioned that this illness was treatable? If so, I wouldn't panic. Just let the meds work and see how it goes. Like anything....... it always gets worse before it gets better. Everything is time. Are the other birds ok? Chickens are usually pretty tough so I think you and your hen will do just fine. Think positive thoughts. Good luck.

 

[Snack Giver]

Snack Giver, from what you have mentioned about your hen I don't see why you would have to put her down. You have the meds and I hope they are working. I thought you mentioned that this illness was treatable? If so, I wouldn't panic. Just let the meds work and see how it goes. Like anything....... it always gets worse before it gets better. Everything is time. Are the other birds ok? Chickens are usually pretty tough so I think you and your hen will do just fine. Think positive thoughts. Good luck.

Yes, the vet told me that our bird's infection was "treatable" yesterday. But today simply had an assistant leave me a 1 min voicemail today explaining that unfortunately it is Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, goodbye. I really wish I could think "positive thoughts" and my bird would be cured by the anti biotics. I pray the other 5 birds will be fine, no contageon, no danger to them. I have not yet decided to cull my hen, I'm just realizing it may need to be an option. This is after spending time on here reading all about Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, a contagious disease with no cure! Just symtoms are treated and it may come back many times + spread. She is really sick tonite, too. Personally I'm a mess, filled with saddness, concern (and rage at my vet for no caring or even telling me about the contagious part of her "treatable" condition). Plus the vet nickle and dimed me for $240 cash yesterday but today never gave me the courtesy of an explanation of what Mycoplasma Gallisepticum is. I hope crj you never get this disease in one of your birds and must worry about the other ones too. What would you do for your other 5 birds?